Investment marks decade of success

Damien and Dana Curran, owners of Whiteabbey bar and restaurant Bureau By The Lough, are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the business. Pic by Justin Kernoghan

Published:07:00Tuesday 03 July 2012

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WHITEABBEY bar and restaurant Bureau By The Lough has celebrated a significant double - its 10th anniversary and 10th successive year of growth - by investing £250,000 in an extensive refurbishment and rebranding project.

With like-for-like sales up 13 per cent over the last year, the redevelopment will enable the Shore Road business to capitalise on further growth potential by strengthening its ‘one stop shop’ hospitality offering.

Entirely self-funded with no bank or brewery support available, the investment involved redesigning the 8,000 sq/ft premises to create a flexible mixed-use concept under one roof. It now houses two complementary but wholly distinct offerings - Lanyon’s Seafood & Grill Restaurant and Bureau Café Bar.

Offering uninterrupted views across Belfast Lough and the first eatery on the Causeway Coastal Route, the overall business - a winner of the prestigious ‘Grub Club Best NI Restaurant’ award - has been rebranded Bureau By The Lough.

The recent investment has created six new jobs, including two management positions, taking the workforce to 30+ permanent employees. State-of-the-art EPOS technology has also been installed, enabling the company to introduce a bespoke ‘Loyalty Reward Scheme’ for customers.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate 10 years of growth and to mark it with this investment in the future, particularly given the battering this industry is facing, and are grateful to customers, staff and suppliers for helping us reach this milestone,” said owner Damien Curran.

“For us, longevity has come down to providing a consistently good product at a fair price, and never being complacent no matter how well business is going. This has built a strong and trusted brand which is crucial as customers, private and corporate, are more discerning and risk-averse than ever. It has also helped position us as a destination venue, recognised when we won Grub Club Best NI Restaurant, so that our customer base extends well beyond the local catchment.”

Mr Curran, who opened the business as Bureau Bar Bistro in 2002, added: “Building on this brand loyalty is what will take the business forward for the next 10 years. Because our customers trust what we do, they choose us for most of their socialising needs.

“With this investment, we have created a single-stop venue strategically geared to meet this growing and diversifying demand. Customers enjoy greater convenience and the reassurance that whether it’s dinner in Lanyon’s Seafood & Grill Restaurant or drinks in Bureau Café Bar, everything comes with our brand guarantee.”